Capcom Haunts Our Dreams Again with Showing off the Licker

Do you remember the scene introducing the Lickers for the first time in 1998’s Resident Evil 2? Do you also remember not sleeping for the next two weeks? I do. And so does Capcom.

Capcom, after releasing more and more clips and stills from the highly anticipated remake of their classic Resident Evil 2 game, has decided to show off a little more. Not only was the gameplay footage showing off more of the over the shoulder play style that many grew familiar with from Resident Evil 4, 5, and 6, but it’s from Claire Redfield’s point of view, whereas the first look at the character models was from Leon S. Kennedy’s shoulder.

This time, the video brings more than just the flashlight mechanics and the gun and shooting design. Oh no, the beast of the night has to make its appearance. What was once pixelated polygons of a brain and distorted skin has now become… something far more terrifying.

Because of the updated engine that they’re using for the remake, the same one used in Resident Evil 7, the graphics don’t leave much for the imagination. Each crevice of the brain is there, and every inch of torn and destroyed skin is shown off in all of its gruesomeness.

(A comparison of the Licker from 1998, to 2019. Talk about a glow-up.)

There is one issue that I’m having with the reveal of the Licker in the gameplay, however. Why didn’t we get to see it in the same fashion as the original from 1998? It is possible that that’s still being built up for everyone to not sleep again for two weeks straight again. And maybe that memorable scene will be shown off in all its entirety when the game finally comes out in 2019.

But as far as I’m concerned, the game is beautiful, and the Lickers are terrifying. And I probably won’t be sleeping tonight. Thanks, Capcom.

To watch the full 10 minutes of Claire game play and Licker attacks, check it out: